Pair hold their nerve to clinch mixed tournament title

BARBARA Draffen and Robert McCrabb held their nerve at the right time to claim Indoor Bowls Warrnambool’s annual mixed pairs tournament.

BARBARA Draffen and Robert McCrabb held their nerve at the right time to claim Indoor Bowls Warrnambool’s annual mixed pairs tournament.

Mixed pairs winners Barbara Draffen and Robert McCrabb.

Draffen and McCrabb won their four 10-end matches and finished 33 shots up after a busy day on the mats at Warrnambool Stadium on Saturday. The Cudgee Cats pennant teammates defeated Ian Grummett and Heather Newman 9-8 in their final match to secure the win.

Mount Gambier husband-and-wife team Craig and Fiona Pearson also won four matches but were runners-up on shot difference.

Heytesbury pair Morrie Kemp and Doreen Coverdale led the tournament after three rounds but drew their last match to finish third.McCrabb, who led with Draffen as the skipper, said he was pleased with the triumph but handed much of the credit to his teammate.

“I’ve been fortunate that for the most part, the events I’ve won have been due to the players I’ve played with more than my ability,” he said.

“Barb is a very good bowler. She bowled at her best. Without sticking my chest out, I bowled one of my better games. With these events, you need to have some consistency.”

McCrabb said he and Draffen were two shots up entering the final end against Grummett and Newman.

“We were two-up in the last end and they held one shot.

“There was no need for Barbara to play her last bowl. We were happy to take the win,” he said. Their other wins were 18-3 against Neville Blackmore and Mary Ross; 18-7 against David and Eileen McNicoll; and 15-9 against Maria Van Someren and Liam Keegan.